Wonky is the new Straight!

Tonight saw the finish of a summer Wonky Star Cushion class.

It is so lovely to see everyone finish their cushions, and for some, putting in concealed zippers for the first time.

Well done ladies! 

And I've been doing a bit of wonking of my own this week (no not the wallpapering in my daughter's room, which most definitely qualifies as wonky!)

This is my wonky corners block for Fi in Hipbees, who sent us some lovely Amy Butler to work with.  This is the final month of year 1 in Hipbees.  The bee is continuing on, however I've made the difficult decision to step down.  I know that I will continue some long lasting friendships through this group, and I wish the new members as much fun as I had!

Another bee coming to an end for me is Modern Irish Bee.



Geraldine, whose month completes the end of year 1, very kindly sent us pre-cut triangles and a definite design to make. 

My month in MIB was July, and this week I got the last of my blocks in -wanna see?

Isn't it great!  Not all sewn together yet, and definitely one of the most modern designs I've ever gone for, but I love it!!  Thanks MIB ladies!

And last, but by no means least, my late Brit Bee blocks for Jennie.

Not as wonky along that bottom edge in reality - promise!

These Seminole style blocks were a real head scratcher, especially for someone as mathematically challenged as I am! Jennie sent us a selection of solids and a picture of an inspiration quilt and let us get on with it!

I hope these will pass, even though one block is larger than the other! (As striking as they are, I don't see more Seminole blocks in my future any time soon!!)

Well that's me all up to date! 

A shed load of class samples awaits my attention, which I'm hoping to get to when the kids are back into school on Monday!

Jxo

All Wrapped Up!

If you don't have a nervous disposition about talking about Christmas in August, then read on!



These are the new Christmas Fabrics I will be selling in my classes from this week.

They are called All Wrapped Up, by Maywood studios and will be available in fat quarters (£2.50 each) and yardage (£10 pm).

When my girls saw them they immediately put in requests for Christmas pjs!!

So no excuses for not being ready for Christmas this year!!

Jxo

'How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?'

Well this one might not have a waggly tail (sorry if you don't know the song!), but I still love his cute stumpy one!

Using Denyse Schmidt's pattern, I dipped into my 'scrap vomit' box of random 2.5" squares and rustled this Scottie Dog up in an evening!

I was anticipating sewing on the orange gusset to be tricky and fiddly, and guess what?  IT WAS!!

But amazingly, there was no unpicking required and I'm pretty happy with how the awkward corners turned out.

So Scrappy Scottie is now on his way to my daughter's doggy loving friend, for her 13th birthday! I definitely want to make more of these, but might try out a few ideas on how to put the gusset on more easily.

Jxo

Getting Ready!

My kids go back to school at the end of next week!  Yippee!

We are all looking forward to some routine after a very surreal summer.

My eldest starts her last year of school.  Eeek!! AS results day last week was a day of celebration and we are getting excited now looking at different universities.

Meanwhile, the 2 youngest put in their annual requests for Back To School pencil cases!

Bethany picked out these fabrics and wanted a flat pencil case.

Lucy (the tomboy) gets 2 because for a change I actually had fabrics that are totally her & I couldn't choose between them!

And Lucy's friend has a birthday this week, so she gets some leftover Fabric Yard fabric - love those elephants!

I have one more 'summer birthday make' to show you, and not a zipper in sight on this one!  More on that tomorrow!

Jxo

No Slouching Here!

Today, another 6 willing students had a crack at my Slouch Bag pattern.



Aren't they brill! (Sorry Susan, but I couldn't not put that winning smile up there!).

And you can get an even funnier pic of Tina's gorgeous vintage bag here!

The construction of this bag is a little unconventional, but despite more than one reference to stuffing giblets up a turkey (don't ask!) they all turned out beautifully! 

Well done ladies!

And if you want to have a go at stuffing your own turkey making your own Slouch bag, you can get the pattern here.

Jxo

Vintage Makeover!

I've recently turned a spare room in my house into a bedroom. 

A wee lick of paint does wonders!  It's only a small room, but I'm enjoying repurposing some items to put into it.

I recovered some mdf (that was previously above my own bed) with wadding and vintage sheets, sewn together in strips, and staple gunned to the back (aren't staple guns the best!!).

I like how the 'head board' is like a type of wall art against the white walls!  Goes nicely with my 'Nana Naps' vintage quilt too, don't you think!



I also rustled up some vintage bunting to hang above the window.

I've a few more items of furniture to makeover before the room is complete. But I'm loving the transformation so far!

Jxo

QAYG Giant Bag!

I wanted to make a 'thank you' to the very special lady who endured enjoyed having my daughter on holiday with her & her brood (5 kids) all last week! 

Because of her large brood, this lady drives a dark blue mini van, not unlike this one!

I just had to use some of the images from a curtain offcut I was given. 

I dug out some brightly coloured scraps and started a log cabin style, quilt as you go (QAYG) large panel. 

All I really knew was I wanted to make a large bag with boxed corners, so I made 2 large panels, and then tapered them til I got the right dimensions.  I thoroughly enjoyed this non-prescriptive approach to creating!

I recycled a belt for the handles, to make it extra strong, and popped a wee yellow car into the zippered pocket in the lining.  Surpirse!

The overall size of the finished bag is approx. 21" x 23", and the recipient loves it (her exact words were 'that's the nicest bag I've ever seen!')!

Ahhhhhhhh!  That's the sound of satisfaction!

Jxo

Fabric Yard Treats!

Fabric Yard are having a one-day Pop Up shop today at McLaughlin's Coffee Shop, Portstewart!

If you got a chance to meet Alice at retreat, you will know what a warm and lovely person she is, and probably got to see a little of her gorgeous fabrics at the Quilt Market on the Saturday evening.

Her full range of fabrics can be found here, and if you are ordering online, she only charges a flat rate of £1 shipping for UK customers.

I offered to make Alice some samples for her open day today, and it was such a pleasure to work with her sumptuous and top quality fabrics.

Tea Cosy:

Made in 'Put A Lid on It' by Michael Miller, Lining 'Turquoise Large Polka Dot' by Kokka

Pegbags:

Left: made in 'Nadeschka Russion Doll' (deco weight), lining 'Green Small Polka Dot' by Kokka
Right: made in 'Kawaii Owls in Trees' by Kokka (deco weight), lining 'Glimma Korket Dandelion' by Lotta Jansdotter

Ipad covers:

Left: made in 'Lucky Elephant' (deco weight) by Kokka
Right: made in 'Nadeschka Russion Doll' (deco weight)

Zippy Pouch:

Made in 'Lucky Elephant' (deco weight) by Kokka

Cushion cover (back of photo):

Made in 'Home Sewing is Easy' by Alexander Henry



These fabrics are only a fraction from an amazing selection that Alice sells.  There is definitely something for everyone in Fabric Yard. 

Go check it out, or if you are in the Portstewart area today, call in to McLaughlin's for a coffee and a browse!!

Jxo

Farmer's Wife Sampler

A wee while ago, I received a pack of FW-type blocks via Helen.  The blocks had been given to Helen, and she passed them onto to Bee Blessed to turn into a quilt for donation.

The blocks are only 6" square & I managed to use all bar 3 of the blocks, in this 'on-point' formation.

My favourite is that cute wee orange Scottie dog!

We added some borders, quilted it, and last weekend handed it over to a terminally lady who has no family.

This has been one of our favourite quilts to work on recently in Bee Blessed.  A lot of love and joy has gone into this quilt, and we see it as a sign of our investment in a quilt when we find it hard to hand over!!

Thank you Helen (& friend!) for entrusting these beautiful blocks into our care.

We pray that this quilt will bring much comfort and peace to its new owner.

Jxo

Easy Peasy Cushions!

Thank you for all your lovely comments about my newly found drill skills, and also for noticing my applique cushions!

I have made these cushions as class samples, for a class in the Autumn.  However, I purposely chose fabrics and colours that would match my bedroom!  Win, win!

First up is a 'nod' to Orla Kiely, on natural Irish linen.

I've seen a few of these designs around blogland and thought I'd do my own take on it!  The envelope back is quilted!

Next, are the circles on dark brown Irish linen.

I wanted to keep the quilting to a minimum on these cushions, adding to the minimalist/modern feel. The back of this one is also quilted, with an exposed, contrasting zipper.

Now we jump to the hexies on mocha Irish Linen.

I used my Sizzix to cut out the hexies, and did some shadow quilting on the front.  The back is quilted & has a giant button-hole closure.

Finally, the odd one out!!

The colours are right, but the fabrics aren't!!  I didn't have enough aqua linen, so I repurposed a cotton pillowcase.  And the fabrics I used for the apples and pears are just too busy! One day I will re-do this one, but for now it will have to do!

All the cushions are 20", and are the perfect size for throwing on to a bed!

The applique is really simple raw edge top stitch, (no need for a darning foot!) and you also learn cushion construction. A fun and satisfying project.

Applique Cushion Class (5 weeks) - starts Monday 28th October

Jxo

Phew! My Hair is Still Straight!

Well, I put my big girl pants on this morning, and drill in hand, I went for it!

It took some effort to get a deep enough hole for the rawl plug (how impressed are you that I even know what these things are called!) and screw, but I was laser focussed and wasn't going to be beaten!

I'm chuffed to bits with how my very special Brit Bee Giant Linen Star quilt looks above my bed!  (Please ignore the 'too long' metal rod sticking out the bottom of the quilt!  I'm waiting on a hack saw!!)

I've been keen to get this quilt up in my room, because of it's symbolism and significance to me.  I may now be alone in my bed at night, but I have the reminder of a community of close quilty friends right above my head! 

And before I go, check out this awesome blogiversary giveaway that Reene and Yvonne are hosting!  It's a cracker!

Jxo

Off to Bed!

At Fat Quarterly Retreat, I took Kerry's class on making pyjama bottoms!  We were working from a paper pattern, a first for me!

I'm sure I could have got them made in the 3 hour workshop, the construction is straightforward, but too much nattering and catching up with friends meant I left retreat with a half finished pair! Just as well I had packed another pair as I was sharing a bed with Terri that night!!  Eeeeeek!

Anyway, a spare half an hour this week enabled me to get my pjs finished!

I used a vintage sheet for my pjs - so snuggly and soft! This particular sheet was donated to me by this lovely lady (& Kerry's beautiful assistant)!  I have enough left for another pair!

I used a different vintage sheet fq for the turn-ups!  It is so refreshing for me to have Pjs that are actually too long for my 32" legs! 

I've really enjoyed making these, and at the risk of looking like the Von Trapp Family, I have pairs already cut out for all my girls!!

Thanks Kerry for a brill class and easing my fear of patterns!

Jxo

When Life Gives you Lemons ....

..... get sewing!!!

Well my July will definitely be one to remember, sadly for all the wrong reasons!  A seismic shift in personal circumstances means I haven't had as much time to sew, for work or for pleasure!

However, a highlight in an otherwise dark month was getting to spend a fabulous quilty weekend with lots of lovely bloggy peeps at the Fat Quarterly Weekend in London!



Because of July being such an eventful month, I'm sorry to say, for the first time in my Bee history, I am late doing a block!!!  Sorry Jennie, I will get to it soon!



I have managed some sewing this month, but I've sneaked a few extra blocks into this months' mosaic, which weren't actually made in July, but were revealed in July (& it makes my mosaic look a lot less pathetic!!)

I hope to chat soon about some of the new makes in my mosaic, and also bring you up to date with some Bee Blessed progress. 

In the meantime, check out Sarah's Bee Blessed wonky cross update - they look brilliant!

Apologies to my regular bloggy friends if I'm not leaving comments as often as I usually do.  I'm trying to keep up with all your wonderful makes and reading posts, but I've lots more plates to keep spinning now, so one may drop from time to time.  (I never was a good multi-tasker!!)

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day.

Jxo